Mail-pouch



No. 6|5,l8'0. Patented Nov. 29, |898. H. B. HUFF.

MAIL POUCH.

(A'ppliontlon Bled Oct. 23, 1897.)

(,No Model.)

witness@ @Hyg M 1% A y Vl] wwww NITED STATES PATENT HENRY B. HUFF, OF COVINGTON, 'TENNESSEE MAIL-POUCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,180, dated November 29, 1898.

Application filedOctoher 23, 1897. Serial No. 656,125. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY B. HUFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Covington, in the county of Tipton and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Pouches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to mail pouches or sacks, and particularly to that class known as saddle-bags; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to improve devices of this character to such an extent as to render them more convenient in their use and safe for the intended purpose by a construction and arrangement of parts which are simple in their nature, strong and durable,

and comparatively inexpensive in the cost of manufacture.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a saddle-bag embodying the invention and shown in applied position. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of a portion of a bag on an enlarged scale, showing the parts separated or opened. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section through the pouch shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the views, the numeral l designates a bag having opposite end pouches 2 to receive mail-matter, and preferably formed of partial bellows folds,

the part of the bag between the end pouches being reduced in thickness and having at one edge a mouth or opening 3. On the edge of the mouth or opening 3 are a series of eyes or staples 4, suitably secured in position and adapted to aline with slots 5 in a iiap 6, connected to the opposite edge of the mouth, said staples being passed through the said slots. The flap 6 shields the staples or eyes and the device engaging the same, hereinafter set forth, from contacting with the lower surface or the back of the animal upon which the same may be placed, and at one side of the mouth a staple 7 is secured, having a chain or analogous device 8 connected thereto. This chain is threaded through the exposed parts of the staples after they are passed through the slots 5 and also through a staple 9 in the opposite side of the mouth, being held in secured position bya suitable lock 10, connected to the end thereof at the point where it passes through the staple 9. These staples may be arranged at suitable distances apart and serve as a safe and reliable means of locking the mouth of the bag closed during transportation, and, as in the ordinary mail-service, keys of the lock will be in the possession of persons at opposite ends of the line or route over "which the bag is carried. At the opposite or front edge of the bag, as the case may be, straps 1l project forwardly, being positioned on opposite sides of the central line of the bag and having snap-hooks 12 secured thereto. These snap-hooks are adapted to engage suitable receiving devices either at the front of the saddle or in connection with harness that may be used on the transporting-animal and hold the bag from slipping from its adjusted position.

The construction and attachments heretofore set forth will render the device exceptionally convenient and add materially to the safety of the transportation of mail by the star-route system.

Of course the dimensions and proportions may be varied at will, and it is obviously apparent that many minor changes in the details of construction and arrangements of the several parts might be made and substituted for those shown and described without in the least departing from the nature or spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- A mail pouch or sack of the character set forth, having enlarged end pockets, a mouth or opening intermediate said pockets and communicating therewith and provided with staples projecting from one edge thereof, and a slotted iiap on the opposite edge through which the said staples pass, said flap being extended straight forward to prevent chafmg from the locking-chain and. a chain-locking device engaging said staples intermediate the end pouches, substantially as described.

In testimany whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY PIIIUFF. lVitnesses:

W. S. Hoon, 1W F. BRINGLE. 

